Novel applications of catalysis for green and sustainable chemistry

This thesis examines fundamental studies of catalysts for more sustainable processes, addressing three particular challenges: (1) Developing sulfur resistant catalysts that have potential applications in the processing of biomass for the production of liquid transportation fuels. (2) Reducing energy requirements and increasing the catalyst ease-of-use (especially water tolerance) for the hydrogenation of aromatics, particularly for the safe and feasible storage of hydrogen using the reversible toluene/methylcyclohexane couple. (3) Catalytically converting models of lignin building blocks as a source for renewable aromatic chemicals.